Top 10: Sustainable Agriculture Companies
Sustainable agriculture is a farming approach designed to make a positive impact on the environment and natural resources, while meeting global food demands.
It encompasses key regenerative practices such as crop rotation, no-till farming, cover cropping and low-carbon fertilisers.
Many companies have been leading the way in sustainable agriculture, developing solutions and partnering with some of the worldâs largest food providers like PepsiCo and Mars.
Sustainability Magazine takes a look at the Top 10 sustainable agriculture companies in the world, ranked by market capitalisation.
10. AGCO
Market Cap: US$8bn
Employees: 24,000-28,000
CEO: Eric Hansotia
Founded: 1990
Agricultural machinery manufacturer AGCO aims to help farmers produce food in a more sustainable and profitable way. It has a farmer-first mindset which enables farmers to access the technology they need to minimise their environmental impacts. As well as developing sustainable agricultural equipment and technology, it is working on a range of cleaner energy solutions so have lower-carbon options to power their operations.
9. CNH Industrial
Market Cap: US$13bn
Employees: 35,000
CEO: Gerrit Marx
Founded: 2012
CNH Industrial provides practical technology solutions for its customers to increase their efficiency and agility. Its solutions include biomethane and biofuels, automation, precision technologies and electrification. For example, it has a majority stake in Bennamann, a British clean energy company that is working on a new approach to bring livestock farmers closer to a sustainable circular model of agriculture. This solution involves manure from livestock being transferred to a covered slurry lagoon where methane emissions are captured.
8. Yara International
Market Cap: US$14bn
Employees: 17,000-18,000
CEO: Svein Tore Holsether
Founded: 1905
Yara is the worldâs leading crop nutrition company and is a provider of environmental and agricultural solutions. It has partnered with PepsiCo to develop low-carbon fertiliser for the companyâs crops. This allows nutrients to be used efficiently by reducing upstream production and in-field emissions. Svein Tore Holsether, CEO of Yara International, says: âYara has consistently demonstrated its ability to swiftly and effectively adjust to challenges, driven by the strengths of our core operations, dedicated people and global presence.â
7. Bunge Global
Market Cap: US$28bn
Employees: 34,000
CEO: Greg Heckman
Founded: 1818
Bunge Global is a global agribusiness and food company, focusing on oilseed processing, grain merchandising and plant based oils and fats. It has been recognised as one of the world’s most ethical companies by Ethisphere and one of only nine companies in the Food, Beverage & Agriculture category. Its aim is to develop tailored solutions for its customers and unlock the potential of plant based oils and milled products with evolving dietary needs.
6. Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)
Market Cap: US$35.4bn
Employees: 38,000
CEO: Juan Luciano
Founded: 1902
ADM works across many areas of the food and manufacturing sectors, including beverages, insulation, biofuels and pet treats. It launched its regenerative agriculture programme in 2023, providing financial and technical support to farmers adopting sustainable practices. Across Europe, 160,000 acres are involved in the project, with wheat and canola in Poland, soy in Serbia, sunflower and soy in Hungary and wheat, barley and canola in the UK and Germany.
5. Syngenta Group
Market Cap: US$41bn
Employees: 56,000
CEO: Jeff Rowe
Founded: 2000
Syngenta Group helps farmers to address a range of challenges such as crop productivity and health, climate change and the pressure to achieve greater sustainability and biodiversity. It provides them with seeds, crop protection and nutrition products, agronomic solutions and digital services. Syngenta was one of the first companies in the industry to launch a sustainability plan, identifying areas to put sustainability at the core of its business. It is directing resources towards products, services and partnerships that offer benefits.
4. Bayer AG
Market Cap: US$45bn
Employees: 99,723
CEO: Bill Anderson
Founded: 1863
Bayer’s agricultural division, Bayer Crop Science, is built on the aim to produce 50% more food, restore nature and scale regenerative agriculture. It plans to create solutions to increase crop production and reverse global warming and make these available to more farmers around the world. It is working to scale the adoption of regenerative practices like high-yielding crop genetics, crop protection products, precision irrigation systems, soil management tactics, crop rotation and fertilisation management.
3. Nutrien
Market Cap: US$50bn
Employees: 23,400
CEO: Ken Seitz
Founded: 2018
Nutrien operates a global network of production, distribution and ag retail facilities to serve farmers with sustainable solutions. Ken Seitz, CEO of Nutrien, says: “Nutrien plays a critical role in feeding a growing global population through deep relationships with farmers and leading assets across the agriculture value chain. As farmers face challenges amid an evolving market, our focus remains on efficiently supplying the products and services they need to improve crop yields and support more resilient food systems.”
2. Corteva Agriscience
Market Cap: US$56.6bn
Employees: 22,000
CEO: Chuck Magro
Founded: 2018
Corteva Agriscience is committed to working on sustainable innovation, biodiversity and climate, providing resources towards solving challenges facing the planet. Using its technology, it aims to contribute to global food and fuel security while supporting economic success for farmers, protecting natural resources and helping rural communities. It works on creating technologies and treatments to protect and strengthen seeds, allowing farmers to harvest more and maximise their investment in their seeds. Its seed treatment products add value to seeds and help plants reach their full genetic potential, developed by its team of scientists that look at plantability, seed safety, stewardship and regulatory factors.
1. Deere & Company
Market Cap: US$155bn
Employees: 75,000
CEO: John May
Founded: 1837
Deere & Company invests in initiatives that support communities around the world, and has achieved US$200m in charitable-giving commitment so far this decade. It helps farmers to sustain their land, lives and livelihoods through its technologies and solutions. Deere & Company is developing a range of energy solutions, including electrification, hybrid-electric machines and technical advancements to its internal combustion engines. It is supporting progress on making renewable fuels more readily available. John May, Chairman and CEO of Deere & Company, says: “We don’t create tech for tech’s sake. There’s purpose behind everything we do, so that our customers have the tools they need to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges.”
